Pump



April 5, 1927.

. U. c. TAINTON PUMP Fi l ed Aug. 20, 1924 Inventor- Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

TaUNITED STA TES PATENT or 1,623,605- Fic s.

uaniyc. .zram'rou, or JoHaNNEsnUne, 'rnmsviian, sou'rn Arman.

PUMP.

Application and Augnst20, 1924 Serial no. 733.1212.

. This invention relates to improvements in rugged, simple and cheap to operate and.

manufacture.

The essential feature of the pump COHSlSl'S- of an elastic flexible membrane 01 diaphragm, which is moved back and forth by means of a varying pressure of air. TlllS diaphragm serves to divide a vessel or chamber in the pump into two parts and by the movement of the dia hragm the liquid to be pumped is alternate y drawn into and expelled from one part of the chamber. .By the use of suitable valves, the liquld can then be elevated, as in the ordinary type of piston force pump. I

It has been common practice hitherto to employ a diaphragm which is given a reciprocating motion by means of a crank or eccentric and a piston rod attached to the diaphra m. This type of pumpis used for short li s, such as pumping out manholes in street drainage systems. Thls type of pump, however, is unsuited for high lifts on account of the strain on the diaphragm, and the consequent danger of breaking 1t. It is moreover very diflicultto adapt this pump for the handling of highly corrosive liquids, and it is also relatively expensive to manufacture.

The pump herewith described, however, has proved very satisfactory for the elevation of corrosive and gritty solutions to considerable heights. It is further very cheap tomanufacture and requires a minimum of attendance and'repairs.

The varying air pressure which actuates the diaphragm of the pump may be conveniently obtained from a compressed air supply which is applied at regular intervals to the diaphragm of the pump by means of a three-way valve which is caused to open and close by suitable mechanism. 7

An example of a simple type of this pump is shown in the accompanymg drawings, 1n which-- Fig. I is a central vertical longitudinal section showing one form of the invention.

made from material, such as hard rubber,

reinforced concrete, or multiple ply veneer wood made up with waterproofglue. The latter material after suitable impregnation is very satisfactory. Over the top of the bowl" is placed first a sheet of rubber 2, and then. an iron plate 3, which is bolted down to the bowl. Through the plate passes an airpipe 4, which is connected with a sourcepfcom pressed air supply not here shownyand has included in the circuit a. three-way cock 5. This cock is actuated by suitable mechanism, such as a link and a crank 7. so that the compressed airis alternately ad itted to the space between the diaphragm and the plate, 1

and allowed to escape therefrom. This results in a pulsating movement of the diaphragm.

In the bottom of the bowl is screwed a,

hard rubber pipe 8 which commuhicates through a T 9 with two valve boxes 10 and 12 having ball-valves 11 and-13 so placed that the incoming solution can flow only to wards the bowl while the outgoing solution can flow only away from it. As the diaphragm pulsates, therefor the solution is drawn into the bowl from the intake 14 and expelled up the outlet pipe 15. By a proper adjustment of airfpressure and stiffness of diaphragm any desired lift (or suction, up

phere at the end of the discharge stroke,

part or all of this air may be passed into the outlet -pipe beyond the check valve. air brings about a lifting action (as in an ordinary air-lift) and in this way the energy of the exhaust air may be utilized and greater efiiciency obtained.

If desired, the three-way cock operated by independent mechanism may be replaced by a valve which is actuated by the reciprocat-- ing movement of the pump diaphragm itself.

Both of these devices are shown in Fig. 2. In this drawing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 to 15. inclusive represent the same parts as in Fig. 1. In place of the three-way cockhowever, the airinlet pipe 4 is connected to a slide valve of which 16 represents the This box and 17 the moving element or valve I In the drawing the pump is supposed to be in action and a discharge stroke is in progress. The compressed air is entering the chamber and the diaphragm is moving downward and expelling the liquid. Attached to the diaphragm is a metal rod 19 having a short arm 20 at its upper end and passing through a stuffing box or gland 21 screwed into the iron cover plate 3. As the diaphragm reaches the end of the stroke the arm 20 engages the stop 22 on the rod 23, which is attached to the valve plug 17. The valve plug is thus pulled down and the center slot moves until it connects the air pipe 4 from the pump with the exhaust pipe 25. The compressed air in the bowl therefore escapes along the exhaust pipe 25 which connects with the discharge line 15 of the pump. A small check valve 26 is inserted in this line to prevent the passage of liquid back along it during the intake stroke. The compressed air entering the discharge pipe elevates a further quantity of solution or may be used to raise the liquid to a greater height.

As the air escapes the diaphragm moves upward and as it approaches the top of the stroke the arm 20 engages with the stop 24 and raises the valve plug until the air line 4 to the pump is again connected to the compressed air supply 18. The diaphragm then descends and the cycle is repeated.

It is understood that the idea here described lends itself to a great many different designs and that I do not limit myself to the specific forms here shown. For example, two or three of the pump chambers may be connected to a single intake and discharge line and a steady flow of solution thus secured, as in the case of a plunger pump having a plurality of cylinders.

Various ty es of valves, bowle, etc., may be used and t 1e diaphragm may be made of any flexible material. Concentrically corrugated sheet metal may with advantage be used for the latter purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A pump of the character described comprising a casing having a semi-spherical chamber formed therein, and a combination inlet and discharge opening in communication therewith, a flat plate forming a closure for the chamber, an elastic movable diaphragm normally parallel with the plate and intermediate the plate and casing and dividing the chamber into an air receiving and a pumping chamber, means connecting the air chamber with a source of air supply under pressure, and means whereby air under pressure will be alternately admitted and discharged.

2. A pump of the character described coluprising a casing having a semi-spherical chamber formed therein, and a combination inlet and discharge opening in communication therewith, a fiat plate forming a closure for the chamber, an elastic movable diaphragm normally parallel with the plate and intermediate the plate and casing and dividing the chamber into an air receiving and a pumping chamber, means for alternately admitting and exhausting air under pressure to impart movement to the diaphragm. a pipe centrally connected with the combination inlet and discharge opening in the casing. and a check valve at each end thereof.

3. A pump of the character described comprising a casing having a semi-spherical chamber formed therein, and a combination inlet and discharge opening in communication therewith, a flat plate forming a closure for the chamber, an elastic movable diaphragm normally parallel with the plate and intermediate the plate and casing and dividing the chamber into an air receiving and a pumping chamber, means for alternately admitting and exhausting air under pressure to impart movement to the diaphragm, a pipe centrally connected with the combination inlet and discharge opening in the casing, a check valve at each end thereof, a discharge pipe connected with one check valve. and means for directing the exhaust air into said discharge pipe.

4. A pump of the character described comprising a casing having a semi-spherical chamber formed therein, and a combination inlet and discharge opening in communication therewith, a flat plate forming a closure for the chamber, an elastic movable diaphragm normally parallel with the plate and intermediate the plate and casing and dividing the chamber into an air receiving and apumping chamber, a pipe connecting the air chamber with a source of air supply under pressure. a valve on said pipe, a rod movable with the diaphragm and adapted to automatically actuate the valve whereby air will be alternately admitted and discharged, an inlet and a discharge pipe in communication with the combination inlet and discharge opening in the casing, check valves in said pipes to alternately admit and (lischarge liquid, and means for directing the discharge air into the discharge pipe.

URLYN C. TAIN T ON. 

